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Thread: Does Gibson have a website for it's mandolins?

  1. #1

    Default Does Gibson have a website for it's mandolins?

    I feel inept, but all I can find is information on their guitars. I promise I know how to use the internet...am I blind?

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  3. #2

    Default Re: Does Gibson have a website for it's mandolins?

    Their website certainly suggests that they are no longer in the business of making mandolins.

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    Default Re: Does Gibson have a website for it's mandolins?

    The Mandolin Store seems to sell new Gibson mandolins...phone them up and ask Dennis or whomever is running that store now.
    too many strings

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does Gibson have a website for it's mandolins?

    This came up a few years back. For some reason the mandolins are not on their website. Dave Harvey has them on his Facebook Page and Dennis at the Mandolin Store has them on his website and if you can find another Gibson dealer, they generally have them as well. I have no explanation for it.
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    Default Re: Does Gibson have a website for it's mandolins?


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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does Gibson have a website for it's mandolins?

    I think the OP was looking for current. Those are archived pages that stop at 2019.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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    Default Re: Does Gibson have a website for it's mandolins?

    It is a shame, but I think that Gibson does not make enough profit from their mandolin sales to think it necessary to have a web presence. They sell through authorized dealers and that seems to be enough for their current corporate master plan. At this point in time, it's basically Dave Harvey keeping it alive. But he is sure building some great mandolins right now. The real deal.

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    Default Re: Does Gibson have a website for it's mandolins?

    The best that I can tell is that there are 3 authorized independent Gibson mandolin dealers in the US:
    The Mandolin Store in Goodlettsville, TN; Morgan Music in Lebanon, MO; and The Acoustic Shoppe in Springfield, MO.

    In addition, Guitar Center/Musician's Friend offers new Gibson mandolins on line.

    The Mandolin Store has 4 new Gibsons in stock-- 2 top of the line instruments, a black F-5G, and a shopworn F-9. They have indicated in their listing that the shopworn F-9 ". . . is the last F-9 we will have."

    The Acoustic Shoppe has 4 F-9's in stock, and Morgan Music lists the F-5L Fern and the F-9, available quantity unknown.

    Musician's Friend indicates "out of stock" on all new Gibson mandolins.
    Last edited by rcc56; Oct-26-2022 at 10:11am.

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    Registered User McIrish's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does Gibson have a website for it's mandolins?

    I bought my Gibson Fern from Morgan Music. I bought my Collins MT Mandola from The Mandolin Store. Speaking of which, their web site says they are by appointment only. I will try to hit Carter's today. Heading to the Johnny Cash Museum with my wife now .

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    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does Gibson have a website for it's mandolins?

    I purchased a Fern through Morgan Music, they were nice to deal with.
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    Registered User McIrish's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does Gibson have a website for it's mandolins?

    Well, Carter Vintage was kind of a bust. Any of the mandolins I was interested in were in a back room. They said they were doing a video shoot with them. Oh well. I did play everything they had out on the floor and honestly, nothing touched the Fern I already own. So, I guess it wasn't a total loss.

    I did play a Weber Mandocello that was way nicer than my Eastman. But it was $8k. I would have bought it for $5k.

  14. #12

    Default Re: Does Gibson have a website for it's mandolins?

    Quote Originally Posted by rcc56 View Post
    The Mandolin Store has ... indicated in their listing that the shopworn F-9 ". . . is the last F-9 we will have."
    For what it's worth, which might be nothing, I spoke with the owner of one of the stores you listed who indicated to me that the ability to order new mandolins from Gibson has recently been drastically reduced.

  15. #13

    Default Re: Does Gibson have a website for it's mandolins?

    Quote Originally Posted by McIrish View Post
    Well, Carter Vintage was kind of a bust. Any of the mandolins I was interested in were in a back room. They said they were doing a video shoot with them. Oh well. I did play everything they had out on the floor and honestly, nothing touched the Fern I already own. So, I guess it wasn't a total loss.

    I did play a Weber Mandocello that was way nicer than my Eastman. But it was $8k. I would have bought it for $5k.
    Everytime I've been in to Carters the last couple years, there has been a sign that said room is closed for video shoot.

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    Administrator Mandolin Cafe's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does Gibson have a website for it's mandolins?

    The people that are retailing Gibson mandolins are saying it's going to be very, very thin availability in 2023 as they retool everything.

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    Default Re: Does Gibson have a website for it's mandolins?

    Quote Originally Posted by rcc56 View Post
    ... 3 authorized independent Gibson mandolin dealers in the US.
    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    ... I have no explanation for it.
    My semi-educated guess: It's probably because for each mandolin, they sell many-thousand electric guitars (170,000 total guitars per year). and updating the website would increase total sales by close to 0%. Plus, they are 3 very competent sellers that most competent (and $-enough) buyers will easily seek out.
    Last edited by EdHanrahan; Oct-27-2022 at 10:36am.
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    Default Re: Does Gibson have a website for it's mandolins?

    "Retool" to build more mandolins, or retool to no longer build mandolins?
    too many strings

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    Registered User Drew Egerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does Gibson have a website for it's mandolins?

    Quote Originally Posted by musicofanatic View Post
    "Retool" to build more mandolins, or retool to no longer build mandolins?
    Can't help but think of the great scene in Christmas Vacation. "Retooling, that's a great excuse. Retooling? I'll retool you!"
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    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does Gibson have a website for it's mandolins?

    Dave's Guitar Shop in Wisconsin is also an authorized dealer. He does have two new Gibson mandolins in stock at present.
    Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Big Muddy M-11, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
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    Default Re: Does Gibson have a website for it's mandolins?

    It seems very odd to me that two of the shops that are authorized dealers for Gibson mandolins (Morgan Music and the Acoustic Shoppe) are in Missouri and are fairly small shops. (I’m in KC area and make occasional visits to these two shops when I’m in the area.) I wonder if proximity to Branson is a factor.
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    Registered User McIrish's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does Gibson have a website for it's mandolins?

    It's a shame that Gibson doesn't seem too interested in the mandolin department. The Fern I have is a seriously good instrument. I've played $20k+ mandolins that don't sound as good. I don't have the experience with enough of their mandolins (only played a dozen) and I have not played a 1923-24 Loar, but my guess is that the mandolins they are making today are among the best Gibson has ever produced.
    I really wanted to meet Dave Harvey while I was in Nashville this last week but no one at Gibson could get me anywhere near the mandolin operation. Oh... the Gibson Garage is a huge waste of time. It's like going to Guitar Center. nuf said
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